Uwaezouke didn't catch a pass against the Panthers, but he has started working on returning punts.

``Uwaezouke is doing a nice job,'' Coach Jimmy Johnson said. ``I like what I see.''

That doesn't mean the Dolphins are planning any immediate changes on punt returns as they prepare for Monday night's game against the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Mass.

Terrell Buckley is sixth in the AFC with an 11.4-yard average on 18 punt returns.

``[Uwaezuoke] has got excellent speed [4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash], he seems to handle the ball well and seems to get a good jump,'' special teams coach Mike Westhoff said. ``Maybe this guy, somewhere down the line, would be the guy. I'm not sure that we want to make that change today. Buck's done a pretty good job, so I want to give him every opportunity.''

Born in Nigeria, Uwaezuoke came to the United States at age 7. He was a fifth-round draft pick of the 49ers in 1996.

Last season, Uwaezuoke earned the 49ers' punt-return job but lost it in the next-to-last regular-season game against Denver.

This season, Uwaezouke played sparingly in seven games before being waived Nov. 7. But he still believes his experience with San Francisco - especially offseason conditioning with Rice - was beneficial.

``Particularly being around J.R., I know I definitely got used to a standard,'' Uwaezouke said. ``The emphasis there, just like it is here, is putting the onus on yourself to make plays every time out. And not just on Sundays, but every time the ball comes at you.''